Toll-service telephone-exchange system



March 19, 1929. T. M. HAMER v TOLL SERVICE TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM Filed Nov. 5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet EM 5W B351 20 mukcmu March 19, 1929. HAMER 1,705,917

TOLL SERVICE TELEPHONE EXCHANGE sysnm Filed Nov. 5, 1924 2 Sheets-Shee /nVen/or.- Thursfan M Home! Patented Mar. 19, 1929.

, UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE.

THURSTON M. HAMER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN E LEOTRIC COM- PANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TOLL-SERVICE TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

Application filed November 3, 1924. Serial No. 747,514.

flocal s'ervice connections are established between subscribers lines by machine switchmeans, "l""'l1E1S heretofore been the custoinary practice when subscribers desired toll connections tor the calling subscriber to obtan a connection with a toll recording operators position by first dialing a special number, for example, by dialing asingle digit 0. The calling subscriber upon the r onse of the operator, then gives the operator the necessary data for enabling the further extension of the connection to the desi ed station at the toll point, such data including the name of the town or toll point, the number of the desired line, and the number ot the calling line. The recording operator then makes out a ticket, tabulating this data, and through a ticket distributing mechanism sends the ticket to the toll switching operator who has trunks outgoing to the desired toll point. The calling subscriber then hangs up and waits for the establishment of the desired connection. As soon as the toll operator succeeds in getting the de- 1d connection, the calling subscribers line i is selected and connected over the established toll connection to the desired line in the distant toll point This procedure requires the services of at least two operators, viz, the recording and the toll switching operators. In accordance with the present invention, it is proposed to cnal'ile. the calling subscriber to remotely control the making of his own toll ticket and the dispatching of such ticket to the toll switching operator or to a clerk who will route the ticket to the proper operator. In this manner, the toll recording operators positions are dispensed with, thus saving materially in the apparatus and the number of operators necessary.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an improved method for expediting the extension of toll connections from subscribers lines in machine switching anism is arranged to print successive digits dialed by the calling subscriber, representing the number of the line desired, the name of the town or city in which the, desired line is located, and the number of the line of the calling subscriber. Since calling dials now in general use in large machine switching areas have the'finger-holds both numbored and lettered, the subscriber will first dial the oflice code letters and digits of the number of the line desired, then the letters of the name of the town or city, then the oihce code letters and digits of his own number; as, for example, 736 1234 6399675 62 123 1.

In the illustration above given, 736 represents the office code PEN for the Pennsylvania oliice and 123 1- .the number of the line which the calling line is located; and 1234:,

the number of calling line in that ofiice.

As soon as the calling subscriber has dialed the digits and the printing mechanism has printed them in succession on a movable tape, the calling subscriber restores his receiver and the printed portion of the tape thereupon automatically severed and dispatched to the toll switching operator of the calling otlice, who then proceeds to establish the toll connection in the usual manner. By the provision of the printing and dispatching mechanism, the making of the toll ticket is placed under the control of the calling subscriber, and thereby the services of the recording operator are dispensed with. i

It is thought that the invention will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which- 1 1 1 lit) Fig. 1 shows a subscribe1"s line, and one of a chain of selector switches and a repeater by means of which the calling line may be extended to the printing mechanism of Fig. 2. 1

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a printing mechanism which maybe selected and op-- erated by a calling subscriber for printing the toll tickets. l i

Fig. 3 is a diagrarmnatic illustration of the circuits and apparatus involved in the practice of the applicants improved method printing mechanism by any suitable message carrier such as a tube system or belt con veyor. The toll trunk indicated at 801 ex,- tends from the originating exchange M to the toll point P, where it terminates before .an operator who is enabled, by means of automatic switches 302, to extend the toll connection to the des red oilice and desired line ofthe toll point. To enable the toll operator to extend the toll connection to the calling line, selector swltches 30 1 are disclosed which may be set from the operators position in a well known manner.

The selector switches shown diagranr matically at 128, 125, 302 and 304 in 3, and in more detail at 125, Fig. 1, are of the well known step-'by-st-cp'v type and need no particular description herein.

l" believed that the invention will'be best understood and particularly the operation of the printing. device of Fig. 2. through a leta1led consideration of the manner 1n which a calling subscriber may select ano operate the printing device to record the data llQCGSStll' For thepur 'iose oft-his descrip scriber desires a toll connection to the line in the v ofiice and 7 city above set forth.

To initiate. a toll call, the calling sub scriber 100 removes his receiver from the switchhook, establishing a circuit for the line hndcr( not shown) which, in the well known manner, extends the calling line to the l'irst-idle selector switch, such-as 125,- ,liaving access to trunks terminating in print ing devices. Upon the seizure of the selector switch,,a circuit is established over the line loop for the line relay 102, extending from battery through the left winding; of this relay, the outer left back contact of relay 105, thence over the subscriber" e .for relay 111 which may be p y for the use ofthe. toll Witching. operator tion, it will be assumed that the calling subloop, returning through the inner left back contact of relay 105, the right winding 01' relay 102, the upper normally closed contacts of oil-normal springs 103, to ground through the left winding of the tone coil 10 1. Relay 102 energizes in this circuit and establishes a circuit for the slow-to-releasc relay 106, extending from battery through the wint'lingiof relay 100, the front contact of relay 102, to ground a the inner right back contact of relay 105. Relay 106 at its left front contact prepares a circuit for the primary magnet 107 which effective upon the first deencrgization of line relay 102 in response to the first digit dialed by the calling subscriber. It will be assumed that to obtain connection with the printing, mcchanism, the subscriber dials the digit 0. thereby opening the circuit through his substation loop ten times, causing ten success ire deenergizationsof lino relay 102.

Upon the first deener gization of relay 102. a circuit is established for the primary mau net 10. extending from battery through the winding of magnet 107, the windin of slowto-release relay 108, the left front coniact of relay 106, the back contact of relay 102, to ground at the inner right contact of relay 1.05. Upon the next ener ization of relay 102, the c rcuit ust traced is opened and magnet 107 deenergizes, advancing the *itch shaft one step. In response to sin-, cessive doenergizations of line relay 102, magnet 10? advances the switch shaft until in response to the tenth dcenergizzuion of relay 102, the switch shaft is advanced to positionits wipers 11 1, 115 and 110 opposite the uppermost or tenth level of the terminals in the switch bank.

is soon as the switch shaft advanced one step from its normal position, the oil-normal contacts 109 were closed energized, in series w prn magnet 10, and remained on i i-ed through the series of impulses, a circuit was established traced iron battery through the minding o? relay 111, oil-normal contacts 109, alternate (:YIiIH'iH of relay 108, to ground at the right front contact of relay 100. Relay 111 upon encrrizing, locks indepcnccntly of the contacts of relay 108 in a circuit exlcndin from bat ery through the winding of relay 111. oil-normal contacts 109, normally closed coiu tacts of the secondary magnet 112. outer l'i fl'llt contact of relay 111, to ground. at the inner right contact of relay 105.

hen the first series of impulses is we niinated .id relay .102 remains energized for a longer period, the slow-towelca e relay 100 deenergizes, opening the initial cnere izinrr circuit of relay 111 and closing a circuit for the secondary magnet 112. which may be traced from battery through the winding of magnet 112, the inner ri t contact of iii) ' extends the calling line over wipers 111 relay 111, the normal contacts of relay 108, to ground at the right contact of relay 10G. Magnet 112 energizes in this circuit, opening the locking circuit of relay 111, which relay thereupon deenergizes, in turn opening the energizing circuit of magnet 112, advancing the switch shaft one step in rotary direction.

It the first trunk terminating in a print ing device is busy, ground potential will appear on the sleeve terminal of such trunk, and consequently relay 111 will again enerin a circuit extending from battery,

through the winding of relay 111, oil-nornial contacts 109, normal contacts ot magnet 112, outer right back contact of relay 105, test wiper 110, to ground on the sleeve terminal of the first trunk of the group. Relay 111 upon energizing, again closes the circuit of magnet 112 which, in the manner previously described, opens the circuit of relay 111, in turn opening the circuit of magnet 112. In this manner, relay 111 and magnet 112 cooperate with each other to advance the wipers 11 1, 115 and 116 of the selector switch. 125 over terminals or the tenth level. of the switch bank, so long as the test wiper 11G encounters busy ground potential upon the sleeve terminals of the trunks terminating in the-tenth level.

When an idle trunk is encounter d, which will have battery potential upon its test terminal, no circuit for the relay 11.1 is closed a d il'urther operation of the stepping magnet 112 is prevented. Relay 105, which during the hunting movement of the selector switch was shunted by ground potential on test terminals of busy trunks, now bee .ines energized in a circuit extending from battery through the winding of relay 111, oilnornial contacts 109, normal contacts of secondary magnet 112, winding of relay 105, oil-normal contacts 124, to ground at the right contact of relay 106. Relay 1053 energizes in this circuit,but being of high resistance prevents the energization of relay 111. Relay 105 upon energizing, i'liscoir nects rclay 102 from the calling line and terdis- 115 to the repeater circuit 126. which minutes in printing mechanism 250 closed in Fig. 2.

Relay 102 upon deenergifsing, opens the circuit of relay 106, which at its right contact opens the previously traced circuit for relay 105, but since relay 106 is slow-torclease, a holding circuit for relay 105 is established before the complete release of relay 106, which may be traced from battery, through the winding of relay 111, oil-normal contacts 109, normal contacts of magnet 112, winding of relay105, otlnorinal contacts 12 1, outer right front contact 01' relay 105, wiper 116, to ground at the outer right frontcontact of relay 118, relay 118 having enerthe assumption, the

gized in response to the energization of role y 117, the latter relay being energized over the wipers 114 and 115 of the selector switch 125 and over the calling subscribers line loop as soon as the calling line as cut through to the repeater 126 through the en crgization of relay 105.

Relay 11.7 upon energizing over the subscribers line loop in addition to closing the obvious circuit for relay 118, also closes at its left :iront contact one break in a loop circuit extending over conductors 121 and 122 through the winding ct line re of the printing device 250. 'Relay 11.5% energizing, closes a second break in the loop over conductors 121 and 122. The circuit of relay 200 maybe traced from through the winding of this relay, conductor 121,1eft contact of relay 117, right winding of relay 120, inner right contact oi? relay 118, conductor 122 to ground. Relay 200 energizes in this circuit preparing an obvious circuit for the sler-l to lQlL e relay 201, which in turn, closes a circuit for he slow-to-rclease relay A connection is new extended from the calling line to the printing device and the calling subscriber proceeds to dial the necessary digits to print the required information for the establishment of the. desired toll connection. In accordance with the previous calling subscriber first, dials the digit 7 corresponding to the i. ter P t the ot'lice designation 0* the desireo line. In response to the operation of the dial the relay 117 dcenergizes intermittently opening at its left front contact the previm circuit for the line relay 200 of the p device. Upon the first deenergizat' relay 11! a circuit is closed for the s release relay 119 extending "from hatt through the winding of relay 119, the leit contact of relay 118 to ground at the right back contact relay 117. Relay 119, upon energizing, places a shunt around the winding relay 120 so that the pulsing circuit extending "hour the repeater to the printing device is 'c e "from resistance at the repeater, this pulsing circuit now extending from conductor 121, through the left contact of relay 117 the left front contact of relay 119, the inner right contact oi: reli J 118 to conductor 122, Since relay is slow to release this shunt circuit is maintainedunti the end oi the series oi impulses.

2130 upon each de- At the prii'iting device energization of relay 200 with relay 201 energized, a circuit is established for the magnet 202 extending from battery through the winding of the magnet, the inner front contact of relay 201 to ground at the back contact of relay 200. Upon each energization of magnet 202, the pawl 231 cooperates with the rack 232 lift.' i the shaft 201 one step in a vertical direction. lea

i 1 7 position by a. holding payl 2 be impressed upon the tape tact of brush 208 he iirst't-e to cause it to attract its spouse to siiccei e 1m guise sequent successive operations the switch slnr't advances, e

208 With successive contacts 2 l shaft has been advanced seven steps in e sponse to the seven impulses oi tue first se- Upon ries die ed by the calling siiibscriber. the termination of the first series of impulses, relay 200 remains energized a longer period permitting the rush 208 to rest upon av contact 209 for a uiiicient interval to cause the energizatioh The shaft is new maintained relay 210. its elevated 7 which on 1 V .2 1 gages the teeth or tne 1a Upon the energization of uit is closed for the 'prin extending from gro 1nd 208, contact 209, the conta winding or printing 1 i i m Mac contac or lo a net 211, upoi energizing tures, the left-hand arme"; to press the printing" plate tape 221,:torc1ng tape ing ribbon 217 2111C. )articular type face such as 206 carrie ,1 on the type block which hasbeen posi ti J I 1 oned ()WPOSHQ the i 216 through the deviation of the shalt 20 It having been assumed at the hrst d dialed was 7 and hat therefore been in i face bearing the nuuie positioned opposite the plat u of the pi i he arnniture 215 i l Whic feeding drum 220. M s right armature and contact vious circuit ror relay 2 which locks circuit exlcndii'i h urinal 210 bell crank lever 213 to ground, having been rele i nto contact lever 2 1;)

L i a n \i llill clilliia i tur-e 2 10 through the sh it 20-1. R 212 energized until t its normal positi described.

Relay 212 upon energizing oviously tracedcircuit for thereupon deen energizing circuit of relay 212, withdrawing the platen 216 and through the pawl 21h advancing the drum 220 to advance the tape 221 in readiness for receiving the next imression. Relay 212 at its left frontcontact also closes an obvious circuit for the release magnet 21% which withi'h'aivs the holding pawl 207 and the stepping pawl 231 teeth of rack 23 thereby poi-min the shaft 20% carrying the printing block 20-) to rest re to its nurn'ial position. the shaft 21 reaches its normal position, brush 20S disengz gas contact 209 releasing}; relay 210, and arm 213 is; moved by the switch shaft to open the locking circuit 01 relay 212. Relay 212 thereupon (lee-non gizes, opening the circuit of release magi'iet Since rcley 201 is at this time ener- As soon by the calling subscriber ere received by the printing device 250 and prh (1 upon the tape 221 in the i uner above set forth. the

oring to its normal conprinting device 1 printing 0? each digit.

dition after ththe digits for print 21: the data of the desired toil connection,

Jer to the switchhooh there )v ouenin circuit of relay 117 which in lurii upenj;

' cuit 2t relay 118. T

comiuctcrs l Vhen the calling subscriber has; dialed a e? .p circuit L 111,1, Z lid l ugh the Winding of relav 2 c 11 "mg device is new opened, i the release o'l. relay 200 end 'sl::=\vto-relcase relax .201. (Chen cnases and eiore 201 has rcl awi is moved up one sep operates, operating the magnet I turn operates 1 through hem huanv returned in ii i ,1 .1 v

a circu t is e, lwl

magnet which mav be through the outer right 201, tr nt c oi' virtue.

relay rel 253, Winding of magnet n- 3 closed in the normal po;

to ground at brush 234.

, This circi inaiitained closed until relav 238 co teiy deenergizesi but i i enable magiiet 222 rom the line is located.

armature and operate the clipper 224 for.

severing the tape 221. The severed portion of the tape 221 then falls by gravity into the chute 225 and is then distributed in any desired manner to the toll switching opera tors position.

Upon the release of relay 118 at the repeater 126 ground potential is removed at the outer right front contact of relay 118, from the sleeve terminal of the repeater trunk and the holding circuit for relay 105 is thereupon opened and relay 105 deenergizes. A circuit is now closed from ground at the inner right back contact of relay 105, the back contact of relay 102, the left back contact of relay 106, oil normal contacts 110 to battery through the winding of release magnet 113. Magnet 113 energizes and in the well known manner causes the restoration of the selector switch 125. The other apparatus employed by the calling subscriber in establishing a connection with the printing device is restored in the well-known manner.

When the toll switching operatorat position 300 receives the severed tape bearing the printed numerals corresponding to the number of the wanted line, the name of the city in which the line islocated and the number of the calling line, she proceeds to obtain the assignment of a toll trunk 301 extending to thecity in which the wanted When the operator in the distant city, having received from the toll operator the number of the wanted line, has obtained connection with the desired line, for example, line 303, through the operation of selector switches 302, the toll operator at position 300 proceeds to call the calling subscriber by means of the selector switches 304-. The established toll connection then extends from the calling line 100 -tant toll points WlllCll consists in transnntiting impulses ironi the calling line to exthrough the switches 30%., through the toll operatofs position 300, over thetoll trunk 301 and through the switches 302 at the (listant toll point to the wanted subscribefis line 303.

hat is claimed is:

1. In a telephone exchange system in which connections are established between subscribers lines by means of automatic switching mechanism, the method of handling calls initiated by subscribers for distant toll points which consists in automatically making a toll ticket under the remote control of the calling subscriber and automatically removing the ticket from the point where it is made to a remote point where the desired call may receive attention.

2. In a telephone exchange system in which connections are established between subscribers lines by means of automatic switching mechanism, the method of handling calls initiated by subscribers for distant toll points which consists in automatically making a toll ticket under the remote control of the calling subscriber, automatically removing the ticket from the point where it is made to a remote point where the desired call may receive attention and thereafter establishing the desired tollconnection from thecalling line to the desired line in the toll point. Y

In a telephone exchange system in which connections are established between subscribers lines by means of automatic switching mechanism, the method of handling calls initiated by subscribers for distant toll points which consists in automatically printing a toll ticket under the remote control of the calling subscriber listing the number of the line wanted, the town or city in which it is located and the number of the calling line, and automatically removing the ticket from the point where it is printed to a remote point where the desired call may receive attention.

4. In a telephone exchange system in which connections are established between subscribers lines by means of automatic switching mechanism, the method of handling calls initiated by subscriberstor distant toll points which consists in transmitting impulses from the calling line to extend a connection to a toll ticketing point in the exchange, transmitting further impulses to control the automatic printing of the necessary data on a toll ticket to enable the extension of a desired toll connection, and dispatching the ticket to a point where the desired connection may be established in ac cordance with the printed data.

5. In a telephone exchange system in which connections are establishedbetween subscribers lines by means of automatic switching mechanism, the method of handling calls initiated by subscribers for distend a connection to a toll ticketing point in the exchange, transmitting further impulses to control the automatic printing of the necessary data on a toll ticket to enable the extension of a desired toll connection, dis patching the ticket to a point where the desired connection may be established inaccordance with the printed data, dismissing the connection between the ticketing point and the calling line whereby the apparatus involved therein is 'made available for the use of other lines and thereafter establishing the desired toll connection from the calling line to the desired line in the toll point.

(3. In a telephone exchange system, a calling line, a printing device, and selector switches under the control of the calling line for selecting and associating said printing device with the calling line, said printing device having means for feeding a tape therethrough, means under the control of the calling line for printing on said tape I point where it may receive attention.

7. In a telephone exchange system, a calling line, an impulse transmitter for said line, a printing device, and subscriber controlled means for-extending a connection from said line to said device, said device having type faces, a printing platen, a paper Ieedmg mechanism, means responsive to sueeessive series of impulses transmitted by said transmitter for successively and selectively positioning saidtype faces before said plat en, means operative upon the termination of each series of impulses to operate said platen to press the paper against the selected type face, means operative after each impression to restore said type faces to their normal position and to operate said paper feeding mechanism, and means operative upon the termination of all of said series of impulses for severingthe printed portion of said paper and dispatching it to a point Where it may receive attention.

8. In a telephone exchange system, a calling line, an mpulse transmitter for said line, a printing device, and subscriber controlled means fbr extending a connection from said line to said device, said device having type faces, a printing platen, a paper feeding mechanism, means responsive to successive series of impulses transmitted from said line for successively and selectively positioning said type faces before said platen, means operative upon the termination of each series of impulses to operate said platen to press the paper against the selected type face, means operative after each impression to restore said type faces to normal position and to operate said paper feeding mechanism, and means operative upon the release of the established connection by the calling subscriber following the termination of all of said series of impulses for severing the printed portion of said paper and dispatching it to a point where it may receive attention.

9, In a telephone exchange system in which connections are established between subscribers lines by means of automatic switching mechanism, the method of handling calls initiated by subscribers for distant toll points which consists in automatically indicating to a toll operator the designations of both the calling and called lines.

10. In a telephone exchange system in which connections are established between subscribers lines by means of automatic switching mechanism, the method. of handling calls initiated by subscribers for distant toll points which consists in autmnatically printing a toll ticket under the remote control of the calling subscriber listing the number of the line wanted, the town or city in which it is located and the number of the calling line.

11. In a telephone exchange system in which connections are established between subscribers lines by means of automatic switching mechanism, the method of handling calls initiated by subscribers for distant toll points which consists in autmnaticallv indicating to a toll operator the designation of the calling line, and the geographical location and designation of the called line.

12. In a telephone system, a calling line, an impulse transmitter therefor, it called line, a recording device, means controlled by said transmitter for extending the calling line to said recording device, means for establishing a connection between the calling line and called line, and means responsive to impulses sent from said transmitter for oper ting the recording device to prepare a permanent record for use in the establishment of said connection.

18. In a telephone system, callingline, an impulse transmitter therefor, it called line, a recording device, means controlled by said transmitter for extending the calling line to said recording device, an operators position, means controlled by the operator for establishing a connection between the calling line and called line, :nd means responsive to impulses sent from said transmitter for operating the recording device to prepare a printed record for the use 0 i i'lin operator in the establishment of said connection.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of October A. I), 1924-.

THURSTON ill. HAMER. 

